When it comes to the intense, high-pressure world Indian Premier League (IPL)Few teams have created such an interesting story Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH). Established in 2013 after the end of Deccan Chargers The franchise, the Orange Army, quickly established a reputation for defending micro totals, nurturing elite bowling units and executing under the radar.
Over the past few years, the Hyderabad-based franchise has made a shift from a bowling-heavy defensive unit to david warner And kane williamson For a ferocious, ultra-aggressive batting giant built by modern tacticians. However, the continuity of the regular season is one thing, and the brutal domain of the IPL knockout is entirely another. Navigating through the qualifiers and eliminators requires a specific blend of tactical flexibility and psychological steel. To understand their legacy, we have to trace their history through the high-stakes playoff stages.
Here’s how Sunrisers Hyderabad has performed in the IPL playoffs
IPL 2013: 4th place
In their first season, Sunrisers Hyderabad took the tournament by storm. led primarily by Sri Lanka legend Kumar Sangakkara and later cameron whiteThe team relied heavily on a fierce bowling attack Dale Steyn, Amit Mishraand a young Bhuvneshwar Kumar. They defied all expectations to qualify for the playoffs in their very first year of existence. However, their first playoff trip was short-lived. facing Rajasthan Royals In the eliminator in Delhi, SRH fought hard but lacked the batting depth to cross the line. Batting first, Hyderabad struggled to post a modest score of 132/7. Despite economical performances from its bowlers, brad hodge He played an unbeaten inning of 54 runs to give victory to Rajasthan and ended the brilliant campaign of the debutants with a tough four-wicket defeat.
IPL 2016: Champions
The 2016 season remains the crowning glory of Sunrisers Hyderabad’s history. Finishing third in the group stage under Warner’s tireless captaincy, SRH had to take the longest, most difficult route to the trophy, winning three consecutive knockout games. They lost and started their rampage Kolkata Knight Riders By 22 runs courtesy of all-round performance in the eliminator moises henriques. Subsequently, in Qualifier 2, Warner played one of the greatest innings in IPL history, scoring an unbeaten 93 off 58 balls to rescue his team from a crisis of 84/5 and successfully chase the target. Gujarat Lions‘ 162. The climactic final in Bengaluru against Royal Challengers Bangalore remains iconic. SRH batted first and scored a huge score of 208/7 thanks to Warner’s 69 runs. ben cuttingLate innings cameo. Despite a tremendous opening partnership between chris gayle And Virat Kohli RCB were cruising at 114/0, with Hyderabad’s trademark death bowling squeezing the host nation. Bhuvaneshwar’s shocking mantras and Mustafizur Rahman Induced a devastating collapse, giving SRH an 8-run win and their first IPL title.
IPL 2017: 4th place
Entering the tournament as defending champions, the Orange Army looked strong throughout the league stage on the back of Warner’s excellent run-scoring form. They safely secured a place in the playoffs by finishing fourth in the standings. However, their title defense was hampered in a rain-affected eliminator against Kolkata Knight Riders in Bengaluru. Batting first on a sloppy surface, SRH were bowled out for a lowly 128/7 as KKR bowled out the noose. coulter-neal Destroyed their top order. The delay caused by heavy rain completely changed the dynamics of the game, resulting in a revised DLS target of 48 runs for KKR in just 6 overs. Gautam GambhirCalmness gave Kolkata a comfortable 7-wicket win with four balls to spare, leaving Hyderabad with their bags packed early.
IPL 2018: Runner-up
With Warner ruled out of the season due to external disputes, Williamson stepped in as captain and excelled in leadership and batting. Under his calm guidance, SRH topped the points table, defending low scores at will with an inspired bowling attack. Rashid Khan. Their playoff run began with a heartbreaking loss Chennai Super Kings In Qualifier 1, where Faf du Plessis Played a magical inning to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. Forced into Qualifier 2, Rashid Khan Produced a brilliant all-round masterclass against KKR, scoring 34 runs before taking 3 wickets and taking two crucial catches to send SRH to the final. Unfortunately, the grand finale in Mumbai saw him take part in an unbeaten run shane watson. Despite posting a highly competitive 178/6, Sunrisers were completely stunned by Watson’s unbeaten century of 117, and finished the year as spectacular runners-up.
Also read: Here’s how Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) has performed in the IPL playoffs
IPL 2019: 4th place
The 2019 season was a tumultuous journey for the franchise. They created history by becoming the first IPL team to qualify for the playoffs with just 12 points on the basis of better net run rate. Explosive opening combination of Warner and Jonny Bairstow The team advanced, but both left for international duties before the playoffs. An exhausted SRH ran away Delhi Capitals In the eliminator in Visakhapatnam. Hyderabad batted first and made a respectable score of 162/8. Manish Pandey And Williamson. The defense was incredibly spirited, pulling the match all the way. However, a explosive cameo Rishabh Pant The momentum changed, and Delhi crossed the line with two wickets and only one ball remaining, eliminating SRH in a thrilling finish.
IPL 2020: 3rd place
staged in united arab emirates Due to global constraints, the 2020 edition saw SRH make a spectacular resurgence towards the end of the season, winning their last three league games to finish third in the table. In the eliminator against Royal Challengers Bangalore, the bowling unit suffocated Kohli’s team and restricted them to 131/7. Williamson’s tactical brilliance and unbeaten half-century helped SRH win by 6 wickets while chasing the difficult target. Their campaign ultimately failed in Qualifier 2 against a powerful Mumbai Indians-Delhi Capitals chasing unit. Chasing a strong target of 190 runs, Williamson played a struggling inning of 67 runs. Abdul SamadBrief fireworks gave fans hope, but marcus stoinis‘The multifaceted talent restricted SRH to 172/8, ending their campaign just one step short of the final.
IPL 2024: Runners-up
After three disappointing years at the bottom of the table, the franchise’s identity underwent a massive change in 2024. appointment of australian veteran pat cummins Bringing more coaches as captain Daniel VettoriSRH completely revolutionized T20 batting. They broke historical records, posting consecutive scores north of 250, propelled by an explosive opening tandem travis head And Abhishek Sharma. Finishing second in the league, they suffered a heavy defeat against Kolkata Knight Riders in Qualifier 1. However, he made a spectacular comeback in Qualifier 2 against Rajasthan Royals in Chennai. Shahbaz AhmedAn unexpected spin masterclass troubled Rajasthan, giving SRH a comprehensive 36-run win. Sadly, the final proved to be an absolute nightmare. Facing KKR once again on a difficult pitch, the high-flying batting unit collapsed pitifully for 113 runs. Kolkata achieved it in just 10.3 overs, giving SRH its second silver medal.
Also read: Here’s how Gujarat Titans (GT) have performed in the IPL playoffs